Son of disgraced patriarch accused of market manipulation, fraud

(ANSA) - Turin, March 18 - A preliminary hearings judge
ruled Tuesday that the trial of Paolo Ligresti, son of a fallen
patriarch of an Italian insurance and real-estate dynasty,
should be held in Milan, not Turin.

Paola Boemio upheld a request from Ligresti's defence
lawyer asking for the case to be transferred on grounds the
press release behind alleged market manipulation at the troubled
Fonsai insurance group formerly controlled by the Ligresti
family was sent from the Lombardy capital.
Paolo Ligresti faces charges of alleged accounting fraud
and market manipulation at Fonsai that enabled the family to
acquire illegal dividends of 200 million euros.

His father Salvatore and sister Jonella also face similar
charges in separate trials, while his other sister Giulia has
already been handed a sentence of two years and eight months
following a plea-bargain.

The family came under additional scrutiny last year because
of allegations that then justice minister Anna Maria Cancelleri
used her influence to see Giulia Ligresti released from jail
into house arrest.

Cancelleri denied any wrongdoing, saying she had acted on
humanitarian grounds as the woman suffered from anorexia and
depression.